-"Look, here is the new X and Y perfumes, just about to be launched !"-"Oh, wow, I didn't hear about it! Thanks!!"-"Wow, that sounds delish!" -"You know I read about it on Z blog and it sounds like it's le dernier cri on steroids! It's bound to be wonderful, they really know what they're talking about!"-“Oh yes, it must be wonderful!”-"Oh, oh, not another lemming! Must get this right away"{enthusiasm is palpable now}-“Where is this available? I must order some!”-“do you think if I go to T shop they will handle out samples? It’s so niche…I would probably brave it and order that 50$ sample on-line” {50$ for a sample???}

Intemission while the whole board goes to order samples/ get decants/buys unsniffed....

ACT II-"Oh, it's fabulous! Trust me, it's exceptional, I never expected it to be so me! You must try it"-"I am swoooooning......it's so dark....so sexy......so deep......" {deep as the abyss}-“What have I been telling you? Isn’t it the most intriguing thing ever since that other niche thing we heard about about 10 nanoseconds before?”-"You know……I am alittle shy in bringing this up, but I have just tried it and found some difficulty in "getting it" but I will keep trying. It's worth it, I'm sure"-Collective encouragement of good natured people: "Yes, keep on trying!!" {About the rest of your physical life, for instance...}-"Now, I have tried and tried and can't get it to make it work. It must be my chemistry! Darn chemistry!! (the character is virtually sobbing)" -“Ah..chemistry can be a bitch. It’s so unpredictable” {astronomy on the other hand is not}-"It's really not that great, come to think about it.....It reminds me of a couple of things I have tested or even owned"-“Hmmmmm…I wasn’t that impressed either. Too much cunning advertising maybe?”

ACT IIIBig “expert” interjecting:-"Of course it takes some expertise and finer "gout" to appreciate such things. I really liked it and I stand behind my conviction!" {while selling the bottle as fast as possible }-"Well, Z, I'm sure you're right, I just have to accept that my chemistry isn't as refined as yours. Must be those genes" {or possibly that mercenary spirit instilled during hard, rationed days}-“Yes, alas, we can’t all be satisfied with those difficult things for the select few. I wonder if I can swap it or sell it…while it’s still hot…hmmmm…”

CURTAINEnd of story: the great new release is tentatively brought up again from time to time to be met with disparaging or confusing comments by a multitude of late-bloomers who happened upon it by chance.....

Elena Vosnaki is executive editor of Fragrantica.gr, the leader in fragrance information in Greek, as well as a senior editor for the top english-speaking Fragrantica.com webzine.

Vosnaki has been Fragrance Expert on About.com and the Perfume History Curator of the Be Open Foundation exhibitionThe Garden of Wonders, A Journey in Scents in Milan. Her writing has been twice shortlisted in the FIFI Editorial Excellence Awards and is extensively quoted by authors. She is an evaluating expert on Osmoz.com.

Perfume Shrine is an award winning blog of 1000s of fragrance reviews (modern, niche, classic, vintage), articles on perfume history and aroma materials, comparisons of scents, interviews with perfumers & the fragrance industry, perfume shopping as well as scented travel memoirs, fine cuisine, tips on building a fragrance wardrobe and musings about the pleasures of the senses.